Compare towns
Groton vs Marblehead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Marblehead | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Lowest |
20,413Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 86% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Groton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Marblehead 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 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Groton 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Marblehead | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.