What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

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

Measure	Brookline	Pepperell
People
Population	5,736Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.