Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Williston
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 homeowners (84.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,100Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Williston 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±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Townsend 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.