Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Durham 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
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
15,080Highest |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| 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%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 40% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.