Compare towns
Pepperell vs Shirley vs Dunstable
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
6,976 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Shirley 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Shirley and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley 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 |
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.