Compare towns
Pepperell vs Putnam vs Ware vs Pepperell
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Ware | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,292 |
10,048 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Putnam 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest 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% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Putnam 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Pepperell 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Ware | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.