Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham 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 the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Groton has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Needham and Groton 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Needham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Needham High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9 |
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.