Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Webster
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 highest household income ($193k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Groton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,390 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7Highest 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Groton and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% 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 | $5,057 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Webster |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.7Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.