Compare towns
Groton vs Townsend vs Hill
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 people working from home (13.7%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Hill has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Townsend | Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 507Lowest |
9,100Highest |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.1±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,625±$21k 6% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$82,125±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$311,700±$41k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,933 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Hill School District |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.