Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hampton vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 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 | Hampton | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
10,101Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| 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±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.