Compare towns
Groton vs Exeter 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
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Groton | Exeter | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
16,151Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Groton 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,871Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Exeter 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.