What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Pepperell
People
Population	1,375Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Unity and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Unity School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.