Compare towns
Groton vs Ayer vs Southborough
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%).
Southborough has the most people working from home (31%).
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 | Southborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
8,645Lowest |
10,493 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.6±1.7Highest 9% above MA |
| Southborough 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%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 |
$196,808±$16kHighest 89% above MA |
| Southborough and Groton 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 |
$821,100±$51kHighest 46% above MA |
| Southborough and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,496±$309Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% 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 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Southborough 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 | #8 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District | Southborough |
| 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.