Compare towns
Groton vs Saco vs Norwell
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).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Saco | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
20,819Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Groton 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% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
| Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Saco 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Norwell 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Saco Public Schools | Norwell |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.