Compare towns
Groton vs North Reading 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%).
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 | North Reading | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
15,765Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
| Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$6,871Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.