Compare towns
Pepperell vs Salem 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
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Salem | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
30,964Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Pepperell 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% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% 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% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Salem 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Salem School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.