Compare towns
Groton vs Dunstable vs Ayer 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 people working from home (27.5%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dunstable | Ayer | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
3,408Lowest |
8,645 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Dunstable 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±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Groton and Dunstable 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 |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley 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 67% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.