Compare towns
Pepperell vs Smithfield vs Townsend
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
22,233Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Smithfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.