Compare towns

Pepperell vs Calais vs Pepperell

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 highest household income ($124k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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.

MeasurePepperellCalaisPepperell
People
Population
11,663Highest
1,713Lowest
1,971
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
46.4±6.3Highest
19% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais 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
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais 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%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais 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.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$76,726±$17kLowest
5% below U.S.
Pepperell and Calais 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.
$390,300±$36kLowest
17% above U.S.
$457,300±$40k
37% above U.S.
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
8% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,139±$301Lowest
19% below U.S.
Calais and Pepperell 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.
$6,586Lowest
111% above U.S.
$6,871Highest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±20.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pepperell and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais 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 — #153 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.