What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holderness	Pepperell
People
Population	1,917Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Holderness School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.