What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Amherst
People
Population	11,663Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#153 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.