Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
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 | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,551Highest |
12,579 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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 26% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.4 |
8.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 6 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.