Compare towns
Pepperell vs Suncook 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%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Suncook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,432Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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. |
$79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$361,100±$22kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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. |
$6,975Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Suncook 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% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Suncook 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.