What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Charlton	Pepperell
People
Population	13,435Highest	11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Highest 8% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Charlton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
	Charlton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pepperell and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	North Middlesex
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.