Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ripton vs Townsend 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
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Ripton | Townsend | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
508Lowest |
9,100 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Townsend 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% 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% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Townsend 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Lowest |
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.