Compare towns
Townsend vs Worcester 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 kids (21% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
207,055Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Worcester and Townsend 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.