Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Hooksett vs Harvard
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%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Groton | Hooksett | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
11,390 |
15,057Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Harvard 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% |
17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard 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 39% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Groton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Hooksett School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.7Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.