Compare towns
Groton vs Pomfret 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).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Pomfret | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
4,317Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pomfret 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% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Pomfret 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% |
17.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret 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% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Groton and Ayer 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Pomfret 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 | 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.