Compare towns
Townsend vs Gorham vs Pepperell vs Uxbridge
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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gorham | Pepperell | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,682Lowest |
11,663 |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 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±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$441,100±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,555±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Townsend 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. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Uxbridge 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Gorham High School | None in town | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.