Compare towns
Holbrook vs Lunenburg vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Holbrook | Lunenburg | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380Lowest |
11,902Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Pepperell and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105Lowest about the MA average |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Holbrook and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.4Lowest |
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| 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.