Compare towns
Lakeville 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
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,944Highest |
11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±1.9Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Lakeville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 38.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lakeville and Pepperell 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 29% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Lakeville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,536Lowest 8% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lakeville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Lakeville 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Apponequet Regional High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.