Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainville vs Lunenburg
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 highest household income ($124k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,943Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Plainville 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 19% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
| Pepperell and Plainville 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 |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Plainville 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 | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plainville | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.