Compare towns
Dudley 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
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Dudley | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
3,408Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.