Compare towns
Pepperell vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
4,306Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Strafford 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 54% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend 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. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Strafford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.