Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rochester vs Pepperell
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%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Rochester | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,837 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
| Rochester and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Rochester 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% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Rochester 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 |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Pepperell and Rochester 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 |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Rochester and Pepperell 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 |
$6,530Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.