Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Windham 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
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
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 | Townsend | Windham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,100 |
594Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Windham 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Windham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school 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.