Compare towns
Ayer vs Ware vs Plainville 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Ware | Plainville | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,048 |
9,943 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Ware 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above 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 | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Plainville 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | Plainville | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.