What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

Groton has the highest household income ($193k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nashua	Groton
People
Population	91,294Highest	11,390Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S.
	Groton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Groton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Groton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S.	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Nashua and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nashua and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 120 in NH	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashua School District	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.