Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wrentham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Pepperell | Wrentham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
12,297Highest |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Wrentham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Wrentham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$7,373Highest 23% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | King Philip · Wrentham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | King Philip Regional High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.