Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware vs Warren 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%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Ware | Warren | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
10,048 |
5,009Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Ware and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Warren 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$23k 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ware | Quaboag Regional | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.