Compare towns
Pepperell vs Putnam 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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Putnam | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| North Brookfield 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±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
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.