Compare towns
Townsend vs Sheffield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Sheffield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
573Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Townsend 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 |
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.