Compare towns
Mapleton vs Newburgh vs Pepperell vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Newburgh | Pepperell | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,475Lowest |
11,663Highest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10k 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$950±$219 33% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Franklin 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.