Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Townsend | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.