Compare towns
Fall River vs Groton vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Fall River | Groton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
11,390 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Shirley 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.