Compare towns

Pepperell vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
North Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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.

MeasurePepperellPepperellNorth Brookfield
People
Population
1,971Lowest
11,663Highest
4,760
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±6.3Highest
16% above MA
42.4±3.3Lowest
6% above MA
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%
20.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.2
MA: 19.4%
Pepperell 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%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.8%
MA: 47.3%
43.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
Pepperell 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
26% below MA
$124,073±$12kHighest
19% above MA
$79,285±$11k
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,300±$40k
19% below MA
$482,100±$14kHighest
14% below MA
$359,100±$32kLowest
36% below MA
Pepperell 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
$1,295±$238Highest
27% below MA
$981±$63Lowest
44% below MA
Pepperell 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
$6,698
12% above MA
$4,176Lowest
30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
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%
8%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
18% above MA
34 minLowest
16% above MA
37 minHighest
28% above MA
Work from home
13.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
18.1%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Pepperell 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 #153 of 282 in MA #270 of 282 in MA
School district — North Middlesex North Brookfield
High school in town — None in town North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
5.5
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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.