Compare towns
Mapleton vs Pepperell vs Pelham vs Washburn
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Pepperell | Pelham | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
11,663 |
14,449Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pelham 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Mapleton 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | Pelham School District | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.