Compare towns
Pepperell vs Nelson 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 renters (15.7% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Nelson | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
648Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Pepperell 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% 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% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Nelson School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.