Compare towns

Pepperell vs Webster 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

Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.

MeasurePepperellWebsterDunstable
People
Population
11,663Highest
2,227Lowest
3,408
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Highest
15% above U.S.
41.5±2.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
Webster 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%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Dunstable 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%
19.4%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.6Lowest
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%
30.7%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%
3%±1.4Lowest
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.
$107,171±$14kLowest
33% above U.S.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$338,500±$30kLowest
about the U.S. average
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
Webster and Dunstable 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.
$6,021Lowest
93% above U.S.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Webster 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%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
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 — #4 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Merrimack Valley School District Groton-Dunstable
High school in town None 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.