Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ashby vs Pepperell vs Raynham
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%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Raynham has the most expensive homes ($524k 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 | Lunenburg | Ashby | Pepperell | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
3,211Lowest |
11,663 |
15,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Raynham 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% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Raynham 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% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
| Pepperell and Raynham 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 |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Raynham and Pepperell 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 |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| Lunenburg and Raynham 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 |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | 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 | 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.