Compare towns
Townsend vs Everett vs Westport vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Westport has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Everett | Westport | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
50,045Highest |
16,484 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Westport and Everett 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 17% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$96,000±$9k 8% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| 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±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$521,900±$38k 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,425±$356 19% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,719Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Everett | Westport | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Everett High | Westport Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.