Compare towns
Groton vs Unity vs Waterford
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 affordable homes ($243k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Unity | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Waterford and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Unity and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 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.