What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acushnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acushnet	Pepperell
People
Population	10,624Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.8Highest 15% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Acushnet and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Acushnet and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Acushnet and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
	Pepperell and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,647Lowest 22% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Acushnet and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#118 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Acushnet	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.