Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lunenburg vs Freetown
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%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
11,902Highest |
9,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Freetown 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 27% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Freetown 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 |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.