What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ayer	Groton
People
Population	3,098Lowest	11,390Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA
	Ayer and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA	$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA
	Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Groton and Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	—	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.