Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Sutton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
2,239 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3% 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% |
4.9%±3.6 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$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. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$7,652 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
4.8% 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% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.