Compare towns
Groton vs Auburn vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k 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 | Groton | Auburn | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
6,119Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Auburn and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Auburn and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Auburn 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Auburn School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.