Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ripton vs Townsend 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 the most renters (19.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Ripton | Townsend | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
508Lowest |
9,100 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% 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. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Ripton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 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.