Compare towns
Pepperell vs Reading 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 homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
25,612Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Reading | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.