Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dunstable vs Lunenburg vs Pepperell
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Dunstable | Lunenburg | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
3,408 |
11,902Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Lunenburg 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 |
$6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,871 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 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% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | Lunenburg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.