What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Lanesborough has the most affordable homes ($299k 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	Lanesborough
People
Population	11,663Highest	3,028Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA	51.2±4.4Highest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Lanesborough 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%	22.2%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lanesborough 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Lanesborough 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	$86,219±$19kLowest 17% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA	$299,400±$36kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA	$1,349±$199Highest 23% below MA
	Lanesborough and Pepperell 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	$5,007Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±41.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lanesborough 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%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	6.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#153 of 282 in MA	#75 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Mount Greylock
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.