Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook vs Chaplin 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).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.
| Measure | Ayer | Colebrook | Chaplin | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
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 |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Groton 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. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Groton 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. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Groton 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr 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 29% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | — | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 7.5Lowest |
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.