Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware vs Brookline 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
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Ware | Brookline | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,369 |
5,736Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Brookline 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% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Brookline School District | 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 | 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.