Compare towns
Mapleton vs Webster 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Mapleton 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Webster 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.