What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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	Auburn
People
Population	11,663Highest	6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Auburn and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pepperell and Auburn 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%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.
	Auburn 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.	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Auburn 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%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Auburn 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	#44 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Auburn 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.