Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Pepperell vs Middleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

MeasurePinehurstPepperellMiddleton
People
Population
6,845Lowest
11,663Highest
9,816
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2
7% above MA
42.4±3.3Lowest
6% above MA
43.1±2Highest
8% above MA
Middleton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Pepperell and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Pinehurst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
43.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Pepperell and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,250±$27k
41% above MA
$124,073±$12kLowest
19% above MA
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
Middleton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22k
11% above MA
$482,100±$14kLowest
14% below MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1kHighest
10% above MA
$1,295±$238Lowest
27% below MA
$1,407±$284
20% below MA
Pinehurst and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,316Lowest
5% above MA
$6,698
12% above MA
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±58.1
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
92.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
30 min
3% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
18.1%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Pepperell and Pinehurst 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 #71 of 282 in MA
School district — North Middlesex Middleton
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.