Compare towns
Brookline vs Douglas vs Groton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Brookline | Douglas | Groton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
9,207 |
11,390 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.