Compare towns
Pepperell vs Waterville vs Pepperell
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 highest household income ($124k).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Waterville | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
680Lowest |
1,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Pepperell 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.


