Compare towns
Ayer vs Marblehead vs Groton
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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Marblehead | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
20,413Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Marblehead and Groton 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| 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.