Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Merrimack 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%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Merrimack | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
28,164Highest |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2%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% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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 40% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Pepperell 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. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% 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±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Merrimack 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. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Merrimack School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.