Compare towns
Pepperell vs Mansfield vs Dunstable
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Mansfield | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
23,931Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Mansfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Mansfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mansfield | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.