Compare towns
Rye vs Nashua 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 expensive homes ($1028k median).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Rye | Nashua | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
91,294Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Nashua 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% |
16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Rye and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rye and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nashua and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rye School District | Nashua School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashua High School South | 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.