Compare towns
Groton vs Hooksett vs Pepperell 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).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hooksett | Pepperell | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390 |
15,057Highest |
1,971Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pepperell and Groton 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hooksett School District | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | — | 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.