What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

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	Rye	Pepperell
People
Population	5,611Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Rye 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.	$124,073±$12kLowest 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.	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Rye 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%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Rye School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	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.