Compare towns
Pepperell vs Meredith 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
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
6,758 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.