Compare towns
Groton vs Williston vs Ayer vs Dunstable
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 kids (28.3% under 18).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
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 | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
10,144 |
8,645 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest 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 |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest 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. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Lowest 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 | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.