Compare towns
Pepperell vs Raynham vs Townsend
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Raynham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
15,505Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.9±1.5Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Raynham 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% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Raynham 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Raynham and Pepperell 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 |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Raynham and Townsend 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 |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bridgewater-Raynham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.