Compare towns

Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Woonsocket vs Groton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).

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.

MeasureDunstablePepperellWoonsocketGroton
People
Population
3,408Lowest
11,663
43,521Highest
11,390
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.4±2.7
6% above U.S.
Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
28.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Groton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.8
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+
62.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$192,958±$27k
139% above U.S.
Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$674,000±$30k
103% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$743,400±$46kHighest
123% above U.S.
Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,458±$335Highest
3% above U.S.
Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,020
189% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.8%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Groton and Dunstable 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 #4 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #39 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable North Middlesex RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Groton-Dunstable
High school in town None in town None in town Woonsocket High School Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
15.2Highest
13.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.