Compare towns
Townsend vs Epping vs Pepperell vs Ashby
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Epping | Pepperell | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,430 |
11,663Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Ashby 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Townsend 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pepperell 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.