Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rye vs Douglas vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Rye | Douglas | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
5,611Lowest |
9,207 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Douglas 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | Douglas | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.