Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Pepperell | Sturbridge | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,960 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Pepperell 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| Groton and Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Sturbridge 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.