Compare towns
Mapleton vs Webster vs Pepperell 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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Webster | Pepperell | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Webster 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% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest 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±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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 | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 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% |
12.7%Highest 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% |
78.2% 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. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below 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% |
9.7%±3.9 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 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.