Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Groton vs Hollis
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%).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Groton | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,736Lowest |
11,390 |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Pepperell 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Pepperell 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| Groton and Brookline 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. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hollis 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. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hollis 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Groton 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Groton-Dunstable | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.