Compare towns
Pepperell vs 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Reading | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
25,612Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Dunstable 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Reading | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.