Compare towns
Ayer vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Whitman | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
15,295Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%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 |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
41.4±2.7Highest 4% above MA |
| Groton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and Whitman 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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Ayer 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.