Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Fall River 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%).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Devens | Fall River | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
94,082Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Devens and Groton 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 |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | B M C Durfee High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 11.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.