Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Epping vs Pepperell vs Townsend
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%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Epping | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
7,430Lowest |
11,663 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Lunenburg 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Townsend 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Epping School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Epping High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.