Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Ogunquit vs West Bridgewater
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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
West Bridgewater has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Ogunquit | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
11,390Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 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% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,471 107% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Bridgewater 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Groton 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 | — | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | — | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | — | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.7Highest |
— | 12.2 |
| 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.