What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pepperell	Alstead
People
Population	11,663Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238 8% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.	$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Alstead 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.