Compare towns
Groton vs Williston 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).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Williston | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
10,144 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Williston 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.