Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Upton vs Windsor Locks 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
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Upton | Windsor Locks | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
8,189Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lunenburg 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lunenburg 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Windsor Locks 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Windsor Locks 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%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. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.2 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.