Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Dunstable vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
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 | Brookline | Dunstable | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,736 |
3,408Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.