Compare towns

Pepperell vs Wilbraham 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).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.

MeasurePepperellWilbrahamGroton
People
Population
1,971Lowest
14,572Highest
11,390
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±6.3Highest
16% above MA
44.3±2.7
11% above MA
41.4±2.7Lowest
4% above MA
Pepperell and Wilbraham 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%
23.2%±3.7
MA: 19.4%
28.3%±4.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Groton and Wilbraham 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%
23%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Wilbraham 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%
51.9%
MA: 47.3%
70.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Groton and Wilbraham 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
$122,051±$14k
17% above MA
$192,958±$27kHighest
86% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,300±$40k
19% below MA
$416,000±$25kLowest
26% below MA
$743,400±$46kHighest
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,139±$301Lowest
35% below MA
$1,175±$241
33% below MA
$1,458±$335Highest
17% below MA
Groton and Wilbraham 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
$6,658Lowest
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
53.1%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
43.8%±17Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Wilbraham 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%
4.6%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
88.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
18% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
13.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
12.9%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.5%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #153 of 282 in MA #88 of 282 in MA #39 of 282 in MA
School district — Hampden-Wilbraham Groton-Dunstable
High school in town — Minnechaug Regional High Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.2Highest
13.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.