Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Pepperell vs Exeter
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%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Pepperell | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
11,663Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% 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. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.