Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Groton vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Everett | Groton | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
50,045Highest |
11,390 |
17,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.4±2.7Highest 4% above MA |
39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Abington 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and Ayer 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$15k about the MA average |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,724±$250 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,045 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Groton-Dunstable | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | Groton Dunstable Regional | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1 |
13.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.