Compare towns
Ayer vs Windham vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
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 | Windham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Windham School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Windham High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8 |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.