Compare towns

Barnstead vs Pepperell vs Pepperell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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.

MeasureBarnsteadPepperellPepperell
People
Population
4,994
1,971Lowest
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
46.4±6.3Highest
19% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Lowest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12k
38% above U.S.
$76,726±$17kLowest
5% below U.S.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
Pepperell and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
$457,300±$40k
37% above U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,139±$301Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
Barnstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Lowest
92% above U.S.
$6,871Highest
120% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±20.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pepperell and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pepperell 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 #111 of 120 in NH #153 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Barnstead School District — North Middlesex
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.