Compare towns
Groton vs Hampton Falls vs Shirley
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 kids (28.3% under 18).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
2,328Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Shirley 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hampton Falls 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. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton Falls School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.