Compare towns
Townsend vs Lee vs Lunenburg 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Lee | Lunenburg | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
4,576Lowest |
11,902Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Lunenburg 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lee 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. |
— | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.