Compare towns
Pepperell vs Devens vs Plainfield
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 homeowners (84.3%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Devens | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
1,723Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Devens 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 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Devens and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Devens and Pepperell 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. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Pepperell 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.