Compare towns
Townsend vs Exeter vs Uxbridge 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 kids (21% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Uxbridge | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,473 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% 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. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pepperell 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% 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% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Pepperell 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. |
$441,100±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Exeter 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. |
$1,555±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Uxbridge 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% 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% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
3.6%Lowest 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% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 min 39% 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% |
15.9%±3.8 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 | #183 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Uxbridge | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | Uxbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.