Compare towns
Ayer vs Dalton vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dalton 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 | Dalton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,256Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Dalton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 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 | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Central Berkshire | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Wahconah Regional High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.