Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Hanson 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Sutton | Hanson | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,452Lowest |
10,660 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Hanson and Groton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.