Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Pepperell vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Fitzwilliam | Pepperell | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278Lowest |
11,663Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 66% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fitzwilliam 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | North Middlesex | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.