What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Orford	Pepperell
People
Population	1,295Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Orford and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S.
	Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Orford 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	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.