Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hampton vs Dunstable 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
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Lunenburg has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Dunstable | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
1,647Lowest |
3,408 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Lunenburg 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dunstable 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hampton School District | Groton-Dunstable | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.