Compare towns
Groton vs South Hooksett 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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
South Hooksett has the shortest commute (26 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 | South Hooksett | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
5,902Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 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. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Ayer 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South 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. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Groton 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | — | 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.