Compare towns
Pepperell vs Stratham 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 most affordable homes ($482k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Stratham | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
7,754 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Dunstable 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dunstable 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Dunstable 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.