Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lawrence 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Lunenburg has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Lawrence | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
88,736Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| 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±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Lawrence 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lawrence | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.