Compare towns
Townsend vs Exeter vs Pepperell vs Lunenburg
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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Pepperell | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,663 |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lunenburg 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% 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% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.4 |
| 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.