Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Whately
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 most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,100 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$116,563±$15kLowest 12% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.