What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).

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	Lee	Pepperell
People
Population	4,576Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,295±$238 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 210% above U.S.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lee 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	#3 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	10 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.