Compare towns
Pepperell vs Springfield vs Townsend
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Springfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
154,749Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| 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 12% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Springfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.