Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Pepperell vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | North Brookfield | Pepperell | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
1,971Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,139±$301Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 34% above U.S. |
$6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Brookfield | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.