Compare towns
Pepperell vs Salem vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Salem | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
44,795Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.