Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ware vs Dunstable vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
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 | Ware | Dunstable | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
10,048 |
3,408Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Ware 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 19% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| Groton and Dunstable 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ware | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.