Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainville vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,943 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Plainville 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Plainville and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plainville | 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 |
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.