Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dunstable vs Freetown
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Freetown has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Dunstable | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
3,408Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
| Freetown and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.