Compare towns
Groton vs Dover vs Shirley
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Dover | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Dover and Shirley 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% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Shirley 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Dover and Shirley 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.