Compare towns
Groton vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
9,100 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,871 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.