Compare towns
Ayer vs Brooklyn vs Hampton 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).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Brooklyn | Hampton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,517 |
1,647Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Brooklyn 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. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% 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. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% 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% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Brooklyn School District | Hampton School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 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.