Compare towns
Townsend vs Exeter vs Holbrook 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 affordable homes ($433k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Exeter | Holbrook | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,380 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Holbrook 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Holbrook 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% 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±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Holbrook 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #234 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.