What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

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	Pelham	Pepperell
People
Population	1,335Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Highest 13% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Pelham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
	Pepperell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 25% above MA	$6,698Lowest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.