Compare towns
Groton vs Hampton vs Ayer vs Norwell
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 highest household income ($193k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Hampton | Ayer | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
1,647Lowest |
8,645 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Groton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
| Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.