Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Sutton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,452Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Pepperell and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.