What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k 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	Fitzwilliam
People
Population	11,663Highest	2,278Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	49.2±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Fitzwilliam 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%	15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Fitzwilliam 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.	$100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238 8% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.	$5,173Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fitzwilliam 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.	39 minHighest 49% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fitzwilliam 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.