Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rye vs Townsend 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
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Townsend | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,611 |
9,100 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% 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. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Rye and Townsend 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest 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. |
1976 4 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. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.