Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dunstable vs Lakeville 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Dunstable | Lakeville | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
3,408Lowest |
11,944Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
43.8±1.9Highest 9% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lakeville 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville 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 19% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$133,984±$11k 29% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$565,900±$27k about the MA average |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| 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 27% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Lakeville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$5,536Lowest 8% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±18.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #96 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | Freetown-Lakeville | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Apponequet Regional High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.