Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wells 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).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Wells | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Lowest |
11,713 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$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±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.