Compare towns
Ayer vs Upton vs Lancaster 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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Upton | Lancaster | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,189Lowest |
8,606 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 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.