Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hadley 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 homeowners (84.3%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hadley | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
5,306Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Pepperell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
| Hadley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Hadley 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hadley | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
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.