Compare towns
Acushnet vs Pepperell vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Acushnet | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
11,663Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Acushnet 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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±$238 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Townsend 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% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.