Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Ledyard 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).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Ledyard has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Ledyard | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
15,433Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ledyard and Groton 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Ledyard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,371 104% 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% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest 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% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #99 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Ledyard School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Ledyard High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 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.