Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ryegate 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
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Townsend | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,059Lowest |
9,100 |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Dunstable 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% |
22.1%±1.5Highest 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% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Dunstable 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. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% 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. |
1949Lowest 31 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. |
28 minLowest 5% 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% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.