Compare towns
Groton vs Hanson vs Ogunquit 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 highest household income ($193k).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Hanson | Ogunquit | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
10,660 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ayer 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
14.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.