What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pepperell	New Castle
People
Population	11,663Highest	827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.	$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.	$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$3,501Highest 148% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.	$8,509Highest 173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and New Castle 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%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	New Castle 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	New Castle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.