Compare towns
Fall River 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
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Fall River | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest 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+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest 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 | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Fall River and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.