Compare towns

Groton vs Fall River vs Pepperell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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.

MeasureGrotonFall RiverPepperell
People
Population
11,390
94,082Highest
1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.7
4% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
46.4±6.3Highest
16% above MA
Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.3%±4.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±3.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
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+
70.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
38.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Groton and Fall River 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
86% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$76,726±$17k
26% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$743,400±$46kHighest
32% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$457,300±$40k
19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,458±$335Highest
17% below MA
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,139±$301Lowest
35% below MA
Groton and Fall River 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 67% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$6,871
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.8%±17Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
10.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
27.5%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical —
High school in town Groton Dunstable Regional B M C Durfee High —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.7Highest
11.3Lowest
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MA 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.