Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Wells
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 highest household income ($124k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Townsend | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pepperell 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Wells 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.