Compare towns
Ayer vs Ware vs Groton vs Devens
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Ware | Groton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
10,048 |
11,390Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Devens 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Groton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| Devens and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.1Lowest |
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.