What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).

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	Wakefield	Pepperell
People
Population	5,405Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Wakefield 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.