Compare towns
Berlin vs Dunstable vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Berlin | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
3,408 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dunstable and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Berlin and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Dunstable 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.