Compare towns
Pepperell vs Williston 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
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
10,144Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Pepperell 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
| 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.