Compare towns
Pepperell vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dunstable has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Newfields and 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Dunstable 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dunstable 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. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields 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. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 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% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.