Compare towns
Townsend vs Lee vs Pepperell vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Pepperell | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
4,576Lowest |
11,663Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and Pepperell 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Brookline 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.