Compare towns
Groton vs Harvard 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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
6,927Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±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% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$27k 86% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Harvard 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±$46k 32% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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 |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.