Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dover vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Dover | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
33,364Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 | $76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Dover 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±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.