Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lunenburg vs Dunstable vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Lunenburg | Dunstable | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
11,902Highest |
3,408Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 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% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Hollis 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. |
$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Dunstable 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. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hollis 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. |
$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Dunstable 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Groton-Dunstable | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.