Compare towns
Pepperell vs Pepperell vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Pepperell 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.