Compare towns
Ayer vs Lancaster vs Plainfield 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,606Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
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.