What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pittsfield	Pepperell
People
Population	4,105Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pittsfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pittsfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S.
	Pepperell and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,694Lowest 83% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pittsfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Pittsfield 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	#93 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Pittsfield School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Pittsfield High School	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.