Compare towns
Groton vs Worcester vs Monroe
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 homeowners (91.3%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Worcester | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 507Lowest |
831Highest |
786 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Groton and Monroe 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Groton 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,873 8% below U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Monroe 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.