Compare towns
Pepperell vs Alstead vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Alstead | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,551Lowest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% 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% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.