Compare towns
Norton vs Groton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Norton | Groton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
11,390Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% 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 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Norton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Norton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Norton 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Norton High | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
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| 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.