Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Hampton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
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. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook 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% |
29.9%Lowest 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above 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 |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 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. |
$6,211 99% 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% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% 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% |
90% 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. |
1980 same as 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. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook 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.