Compare towns
Pepperell vs Pembroke vs Pepperell
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).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Pembroke | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
18,382Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Pembroke 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 26% below MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Pembroke and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Pembroke | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.