Compare towns
Pepperell vs Walpole vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k median).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Walpole | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
3,690 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.