Compare towns
Pepperell vs North Reading vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | North Reading | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
15,765Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| North Reading and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and North Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Reading | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.