Compare towns
Lakeville vs Exeter vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lakeville has the most expensive homes ($566k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Lakeville | Exeter | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,944 |
16,151Highest |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±1.9 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lakeville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lakeville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,984±$11kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Lakeville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $565,900±$27kHighest 70% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,884±$466Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lakeville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,536Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #96 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Apponequet Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.