Compare towns
Pepperell vs Merrimack vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Merrimack | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
28,164Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 54% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Merrimack School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.