Compare towns
Cavendish vs Pepperell vs Reading vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Cavendish | Pepperell | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
11,663Highest |
699Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.