Compare towns
Derry 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
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Derry | Groton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
11,390Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Derry and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.