Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainfield vs Suffield vs Lunenburg
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Plainfield | Suffield | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
15,141 |
15,702Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Lunenburg 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Suffield 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.