Compare towns
Dunstable vs Ludlow vs Springfield vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Dunstable | Ludlow | Springfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
20,904 |
154,749Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Ludlow and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Ludlow | Springfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.