Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lee 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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Lee | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
4,576 |
4,760Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%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% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Lee 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 37% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.