Compare towns
Pepperell vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
15,080Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Groton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Durham 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.