Compare towns
Groton vs Bow 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 expensive homes ($743k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Bow | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Groton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Bow School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Bow High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
12.8 |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.