Compare towns
Townsend vs Wolfeboro 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 the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,571Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above 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±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.