Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Lakeville vs Dunstable
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lakeville has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Brookline | Lakeville | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
5,736 |
11,944Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±1.9Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Lakeville 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Dunstable 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Lakeville 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% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville 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. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$133,984±$11k 66% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$565,900±$27k 70% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,884±$466 33% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,536Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville 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% |
0.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Dunstable 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #96 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Freetown-Lakeville | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Apponequet Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.