Compare towns
Groton vs Merrimack 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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% 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 | Merrimack | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Lowest |
28,164Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 139% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Merrimack 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. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Merrimack School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
12.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.