Compare towns
Townsend vs Royalston vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Royalston has the most affordable homes ($346k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Royalston | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,460Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Royalston 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Townsend 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% |
20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Royalston 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% |
28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Royalston 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 |
$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Royalston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Royalston 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Athol-Royalston | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.