Compare towns
Pepperell vs Barnstead vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Barnstead | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
4,994Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Barnstead 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead 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±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Lunenburg 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Barnstead School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.