Compare towns
Pepperell vs Middlesex vs Douglas 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Middlesex | Douglas | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,207 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Douglas 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Groton 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.