What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Brookfield	Pepperell
People
Population	4,760Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	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
School district	North Brookfield	North Middlesex
High school in town	North Brookfield High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.