Compare towns
Reading vs Pepperell vs Cavendish vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Reading | Pepperell | Cavendish | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
11,663Highest |
1,242 |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | North Middlesex | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.