What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Brookfield	Groton
People
Population	4,760Lowest	11,390Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA
	North Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Groton and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA	$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA	$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%	43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#270 of 282 in MA	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	North Brookfield	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	13.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.