Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainfield 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 renters (15.7% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
616Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Plainfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| 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 12% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Plainfield 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 | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
| 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.