Compare towns
Pepperell vs Springfield vs Townsend vs Dunstable
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Springfield | Townsend | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,122Lowest |
9,100 |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Townsend 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.