Compare towns
East Bridgewater vs Pepperell vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | East Bridgewater | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,456Highest |
11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.2 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,853±$9kHighest 29% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| East Bridgewater and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,200±$32kHighest 9% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| East Bridgewater and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,981±$671Highest 12% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,522 9% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±20.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and East Bridgewater 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 | #204 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | East Bridgewater | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.