Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ayer vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Ayer | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,645Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.