Compare towns

Castle Hill vs Mapleton 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

Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Pepperell has the most expensive 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.

MeasureCastle HillMapletonPepperell
People
Population
281Lowest
1,884
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.8±15.8Highest
49% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
Castle Hill and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
44.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,250±$14kLowest
33% below U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
Pepperell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$145,300±$18kLowest
56% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$574
33% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Highest
8% below U.S.
Pepperell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,449Lowest
54% below U.S.
$1,789
43% below U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Castle Hill and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #153 of 282 in MA
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 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.