Compare towns
Pepperell vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Windham | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
16,038Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Dunstable 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dunstable 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Windham 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% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Dunstable 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.