Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Hampton Beach 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%).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
2,605Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.