Compare towns
Pepperell vs Mapleton vs Lunenburg vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Mapleton | Lunenburg | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
1,884Lowest |
11,902Highest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dunstable 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lunenburg | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.