Compare towns

Groton vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.

MeasureGrotonWebsterPepperell
People
Population
11,390
17,748Highest
1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.7
4% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±3.8
MA: 17.9%
Webster 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
38.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Webster 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
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
$76,726±$17k
26% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$743,400±$46kHighest
32% above MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$457,300±$40k
19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,458±$335Highest
17% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,139±$301Lowest
35% below MA
Groton and Webster 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
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$6,871
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.8%±17Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Webster 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%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
10.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
49.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
27.5%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Webster —
High school in town Groton Dunstable Regional Bartlett High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.7Highest
11.6Lowest
—
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.