Compare towns
Pepperell vs Cavendish 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
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Cavendish | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,242Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest 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% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above 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. |
$3,948Lowest 27% 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% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Cavendish 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 | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 18 photos → | 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.