City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Pepperell, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Pepperell - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,887
Residents
$76,196
Median income
$399,700
Median home
$2,941
Median rent (state)

Pepperell - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Pepperell lands in the 57th percentile for household income and the 86th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

57th
percentile, household income
77th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
86th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Pepperell, MA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,887 residents in Pepperell, a small town within Massachusetts. Median household income here is $76,196 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.4%. Home values in Pepperell run a median of $399,700, and the median resident age is 47.2 years. About 37.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Pepperell reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 476.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Massachusetts at 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,941 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Massachusetts run around $330, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 96.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

1,887 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$76,196 /yr

Poverty 3.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Pepperell compare to other US cities?

Here's how Pepperell stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 77% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities
Safety 86% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Massachusetts, Pepperell ranks #33 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Pepperell against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Massachusetts only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Massachusetts-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Massachusetts's city distribution

Among the 240 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Pepperell ranks #171 - the 29th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Pepperell only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#175 of 233
25th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#4 of 247
68th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#171 of 240
29th percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#127 of 247
48th percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#164 of 247
33rd percentile in Massachusetts

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Massachusetts only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

57thIncome percentile
86thSafety percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income · 86th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Pepperell's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Pepperell's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 52 Avg. percentile National median
Pepperell's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Pepperell's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$399,700 23rd percentile more affordable than 23% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Pepperell $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Pepperell, MA Pepperell, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pepperell, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Pepperell, MA median $76,196/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Pepperell, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Pepperell, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 37.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,887
Median Income
$76,196
Median Home Value
$399,700
Median Age
47.2
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Labor force participation
58.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
37.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
476.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
108.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
367.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
12.1%

Based on 924 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Pepperell sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,941/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

White Island Shores
1,880 people
Dennis
1,903 people
Devens
1,871 people
South Deerfield
1,822 people
Great Barrington
1,953 people
North Eastham
1,958 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pepperell's 1,887 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pawnee, OK
1,887 people
Boquerón comunidad (Cabo Rojo Municipio), PR
1,887 people
Coal Run, KY
1,888 people
Coleraine, MN
1,888 people
Honey Grove, TX
1,886 people
Laughlin AFB, TX
1,888 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pepperell's $76,196 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Cloud, FL
$76,196 median income
Altamont, IL
$76,198 median income
Pioche, NV
$76,194 median income
Chebanse, IL
$76,190 median income
Mechanicsville, IA
$76,190 median income
Fort Dick, CA
$76,204 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pepperell, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Pepperell, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.4% 8.2% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.0% White 82.4% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 8.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 6.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Pepperell compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Pepperell (this city) 1,887 $76,196
White Island Shores 1,880 $104,940
Dennis 1,903 $127,292
Devens 1,871 $113,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pepperell, MA?

What is the population of Pepperell, MA? +

1,887 people live in Pepperell, MA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Pepperell, MA? +

Pepperell households earn a median of $76,196 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pepperell? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pepperell; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Pepperell, MA safe? +

Pepperell has a total crime rate of 476.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Pepperell, MA? +

The median home value in Pepperell is $399,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.