What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pepperell	South Hampton
People
Population	11,663Highest	984Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Hampton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pepperell and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S.	$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.	$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.	$9,109Highest 192% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and South Hampton 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	South Hampton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.