What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).

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	Chapman
People
Population	11,663Highest	388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S.
	Chapman 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%	27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chapman 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%	27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Chapman 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.	$93,125±$17kLowest 15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238 8% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.	$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Chapman 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#153 of 282 in MA	—
School district	North Middlesex	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.