Compare towns
Pepperell vs Fairhaven vs Lunenburg
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Fairhaven | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
15,903Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Fairhaven 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 19% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Fairhaven | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.