Compare towns
Pepperell vs Merrimack vs East Pepperell
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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
East Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
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 | East Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
28,164Highest |
1,949Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±3.7 8% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and East Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Pepperell 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% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$96,198±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$430,400±$24kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,620±$134 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$5,878Lowest 88% 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% |
22%±21.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Merrimack School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | — |
| 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.