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Town comparison · Massachusetts

Groton vs Pepperell

MetroWest · MetroWest
Pepperell leads 4–2 on headline livability metrics

Across the six headline livability metrics (schools, safety, walkability, biking, affordability, and commute), Pepperell edges Groton 4 to 2. Median homes in Pepperell run roughly $180k cheaper than in Groton, about 24% less. Groton is about 5 minutes closer to Boston by car at peak. Schools tilt clearly toward Groton (88 vs. 68).

The two towns at a glance

Groton

MetroWest · pop. 11,400
Groton-Dunstable schools consistently rank in the top quarter of Massachusetts, and the town itself is classic New England: town common, conservation farms, and old money.
56
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Groton profile →

Pepperell

MetroWest · pop. 11,700
Pepperell is mill-town Massachusetts at the northern 495 fringe, affordable, riverfront, and part of the North Middlesex Regional school district that serves Townsend and Ayer.
49
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Pepperell profile →

Head-to-head: every metric

Groton Pepperell
Headline
Livability index 53 47
Economics
Median home $765k $585k
Household income $189k $124k
Price ÷ income 4.7×
Tax burden 50 46
Schools & Safety
Schools 88 68
Safety 92 78
Getting around
Commute to Boston 60 min 65 min
Walkability 20 25
Transit 22 22
Biking 18 20
Lifestyle
Dining 32 30
Nightlife 12 18
Arts & culture 22 18
Green space 55 48
Community
Diversity 18 18
Climate 72 72
5-yr trend 60 58

Clay = wins this metric. Direction matters: lower median home and shorter commute are better; everything else, higher is better.

Compare on your terms

These winners are based on a neutral, equal weighting of every metric. Your priorities are not neutral. Open Groton vs Pepperell in the interactive atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and watch the verdict change.

Stuck between Groton and Pepperell?

I'm Gary Fikes, a licensed real estate agent at MP Signature Realty and the curator of this site. I've walked both towns. Tell me what matters most and I'll give you a straight answer within 1 business day. No auto-dialer, no spam, no resale.

About this comparison

Bay State Atlas ranks 194 Massachusetts towns using public data (Census ACS, MA DESE schools, Walk Score, MA Department of Revenue tax data, and the FBI UCR safety index) normalized to 0–100. Every weight is editable. This page is a static, indexable snapshot. The live tool is faster and lets you customize what counts.