Compare towns
Ayer vs Blackstone vs Ogunquit 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
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ayer | Blackstone | Ogunquit | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,255 |
1,379Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Groton 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone-Millville | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | — | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.6 |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.