Compare towns
Groton vs Windham vs Shirley
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% 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 | Windham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
19,188Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Groton 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Shirley 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | RSU 14 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.