What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pepperell	Wakefield
People
Population	11,663Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Pepperell 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.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.