Compare towns
Pepperell vs North Brookfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Pepperell | North Brookfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
4,760 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 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 | $76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| Groton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 15% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #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 | 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.