Compare towns
Townsend vs Walpole 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 the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Walpole | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
26,388Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest 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±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| 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.