Compare towns
Dorchester vs Wilder 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Groton has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Wilder | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,087Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2 31% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$85,625±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Groton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$269,000±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 21% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.