What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k 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	Hampden
People
Population	11,663Highest	4,946Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA	50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Hampden 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	$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average
	Pepperell and Hampden 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	$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA	$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA
	Pepperell and Hampden 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	$6,181Lowest 3% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%	36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#153 of 282 in MA	#199 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.