Compare towns
Ayer vs Epping vs Shirley 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%).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Epping | Shirley | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
7,430 |
6,976Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Shirley 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Shirley 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Epping and Shirley 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Epping School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 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.