Compare towns
Townsend vs Pepperell vs Lunenburg vs Holbrook
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 affordable homes ($433k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Pepperell | Lunenburg | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
11,663 |
11,902Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 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 |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$115,210±$14k 11% 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±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Pepperell and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 12.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.