Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Worcester
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Townsend 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.