Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Mason 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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,451Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Lunenburg 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$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±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% 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±$586 40% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Mason and Lunenburg 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason School District | 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 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.