Compare towns
Groton vs Ayer vs Pepperell
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 highest household income ($193k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
8,645Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 86% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | 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 |
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.