Compare towns
Pepperell vs Merrimack 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
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Merrimack | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
28,164Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.4%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% |
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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Merrimack and Dunstable 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. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Merrimack School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
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| 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.