Compare towns
Groton vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Ayer
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 expensive homes ($743k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 86% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Groton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Nashoba | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 12.6 |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.