Compare towns
Townsend vs Newfields vs Bow 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Newfields | Bow | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,023Lowest |
8,335 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Bow 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Bow School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.