Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Sutton vs Plainfield 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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
9,452Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Sutton | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.