Compare towns
Groton vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
2,239Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton 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. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Kearsarge Regional High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.