Compare towns
Madbury vs Pepperell vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Madbury | Pepperell | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
11,663Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Madbury 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.