Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wareham vs Dunstable vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Wareham | Dunstable | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
23,302Highest |
3,408Lowest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Lunenburg 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wareham | Groton-Dunstable | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.