Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Lancaster | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% 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 |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 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 |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Groton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Nashoba | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| 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.