Compare towns
Groton vs Pomfret vs Shirley
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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% 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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
4,317Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Pomfret 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% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% 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% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Shirley 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 | #239 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 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.