Compare towns
Pepperell vs Pawtucket 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 population (median age 42.4).
Pawtucket has the most renters (49.9% rent).
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 | Pawtucket | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
75,893Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Groton 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% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Groton 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% |
22.2%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% |
5.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Pawtucket 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. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 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. |
$4,115Lowest 32% 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% |
45.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pawtucket 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | William E. Tolman High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
13.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.