Compare towns
Pepperell vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Groton has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
32,459Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Needham 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Needham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.