Compare towns
Dummer vs Wakefield 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
Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Dummer | Wakefield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
27,793Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2 31% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$269,000±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.