Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ashburnham vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Ashburnham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
6,415 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham 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 19% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.