Compare towns
Newfields vs Lunenburg vs Pepperell vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Newfields | Lunenburg | Pepperell | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
11,902 |
11,663 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.