Compare towns
Townsend vs Epping vs Webster 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Pepperell has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Epping | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,430 |
2,227Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Townsend 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest 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% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% 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. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 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 | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% 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% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.