Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Groton vs Shirley
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%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Dunstable | Groton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
3,408Lowest |
11,390Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Shirley 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 about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Dunstable and Groton 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 |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Shirley 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.