Compare towns
Mendon vs Pepperell vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Mendon | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Mendon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.