Compare towns
Pepperell vs Groton vs Hollis vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Groton | Hollis | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
11,390 |
8,603Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hollis 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 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Hollis 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% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Townsend 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Groton 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.