Compare towns
Pepperell vs Castleton vs Groton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Castleton | Groton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
4,453 |
11,390 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Pepperell 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
| Groton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #39 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.