Compare towns
Ayer vs Lunenburg vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Ayer | Lunenburg | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,902Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Lunenburg 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.