Compare towns
Pepperell vs Exeter 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Exeter | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
16,151Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Groton 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. |
$8,814 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pepperell 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.