Compare towns
Townsend vs Gardner 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 kids (21% under 18).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gardner | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Gardner 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 17% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Gardner | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.