Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Thompson
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Sutton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,452Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sutton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.