Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Rye | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
5,611Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Rye 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.