Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton vs Upton vs Groton
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Hampton | Upton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,647Lowest |
8,189 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Upton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Upton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton and Upton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% 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% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.