Compare towns
Ayer vs North Hampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | North Hampton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
4,543Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Groton 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | North Hampton School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.