Compare towns
Ayer vs Peabody 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%).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Peabody | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
54,695Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Peabody 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest 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±$15k about the MA average |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Peabody | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | 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 |
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.