Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rye vs Harvard vs Dunstable
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 most affordable homes ($482k median).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Rye | Harvard | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,611 |
6,927 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23k 158% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% 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% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | Harvard | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.