Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ayer vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Pepperell | Ayer | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
8,645Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Ayer and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.