Compare towns

Rye vs Dunstable vs Pepperell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% 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.

MeasureRyeDunstablePepperell
People
Population
5,611Highest
3,408
1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
41.5±2.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
46.4±6.3
19% above U.S.
Rye and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunstable and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.4
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
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$76,726±$17kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$674,000±$30k
103% above U.S.
$457,300±$40kLowest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
$1,139±$301Lowest
19% below U.S.
Rye and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$6,871Lowest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±20.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #4 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Rye School District Groton-Dunstable —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.