What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Webster	Pepperell
People
Population	2,227Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell and Webster 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	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.