Compare towns
Townsend vs Atkinson vs Epping 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
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Townsend | Atkinson | Epping | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,267Lowest |
7,430 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Epping and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.