Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Sutton 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Sutton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,943 |
9,452 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Sutton 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Sutton 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 |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Sutton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Sutton 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | Sutton | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.