Compare towns
Shirley vs Suffield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Shirley | Suffield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
15,702Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Suffield School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.