Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Middleton
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%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Middleton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,390Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
| Middleton 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 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleton 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% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Groton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Groton and Middleton 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 |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Groton and Ayer 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Groton 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Middleton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | 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 |
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.