Compare towns

Pepperell vs Berlin 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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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.

MeasurePepperellBerlinPepperell
People
Population
11,663Highest
3,378
1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+10.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3Lowest
6% above MA
49.7±2.8Highest
24% above MA
46.4±6.3
16% above MA
Berlin 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
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±5.2
MA: 19.4%
Pepperell 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
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±3.8
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
MA: 47.3%
48.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
38.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Pepperell and Berlin 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
$121,336±$12k
17% above MA
$76,726±$17kLowest
26% below MA
Pepperell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$482,100±$14k
14% below MA
$616,600±$55kHighest
10% above MA
$457,300±$40kLowest
19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238
27% below MA
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
$1,139±$301Lowest
35% below MA
Berlin and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,698Lowest
12% above MA
$7,116Highest
19% above MA
$6,871
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±19.7
MA: 51.8%
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
77.3%
MA: 62.5%
49.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
16% above MA
34 min
17% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.5%±4.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #153 of 282 in MA #61 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Berlin-Boylston —
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.