Compare towns

Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureDunstablePepperellRipton
People
Population
3,408
11,663Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
—
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
189% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #153 of 282 in MA —
School district Groton-Dunstable North Middlesex Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None 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.