Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ashburnham vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Lunenburg | Ashburnham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,415Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.