Compare towns

Pepperell vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs Lunenburg

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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% 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.

MeasurePepperellSuffieldWindsor LocksLunenburg
People
Population
11,663Lowest
15,702Highest
12,579
11,902
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+16.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
44.5±1.7Highest
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.2±2.1
11% above U.S.
Suffield and Lunenburg 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%
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lunenburg 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%
18.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Suffield 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%
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks 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
54% above U.S.
$119,472±$13k
48% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,828±$11k
40% above U.S.
Pepperell and Suffield 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.
$407,500±$26k
22% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$463,900±$24k
39% above U.S.
Pepperell and Lunenburg 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.
$1,424±$141
about the U.S. average
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,974±$586Highest
40% above U.S.
Lunenburg and Suffield 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.
$6,456
107% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,401
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±13.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Suffield 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%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Suffield 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 #57 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #87 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Suffield School District Windsor Locks School District Lunenburg
High school in town None in town Suffield High School Windsor Locks High School Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
8.9Lowest
12.4Highest
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.