Compare towns
Groton vs Ayer vs Dunstable vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Ayer | Dunstable | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
8,645 |
3,408Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$27k 86% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Groton and Ayer 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 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.