Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wolfeboro 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 renters (50.8% rent).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k 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 | Wolfeboro | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
6,571Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Brookfield 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Wolfeboro 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. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.