Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rye vs Dunstable vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Rye | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,611 |
3,408 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
| Rye and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rye and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.