Compare towns
Pepperell vs Webster vs Windsor Locks vs Lunenburg
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Webster | Windsor Locks | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
17,748Highest |
12,579 |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Lunenburg 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Webster | Windsor Locks School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Windsor Locks High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
8.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.