Ayer vs Groton
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $400k more for a 4BR in Groton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $400k for two tiers of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Ayer works out roughly $6,900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Ayer if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Ayer numbers →Choose Groton if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Groton numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsGroton ahead on 3 of 8
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 45th | 82nd |
| Student growth | 48th | 54th |
| Graduation rate | 94.3% | 95.3% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $19,013 | $22,031 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 4 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 3 | 3 |
What a home costsAyer ahead on 4 of 6
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $550kT1 | $950kT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $425k | $700k |
| 2BR condo | $315k | $520k |
| 3BR rent | $3,080/mo | $3,080/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $151k | $263k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.3% a year | 5.9% a year |
What you pay the townAyer ahead on 2 of 4
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.50T3 | $14.50T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$6,900 | ≈$13,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,716 | $4,556 |
| Share of budget on schools | 49% | 56% |
Getting to workAyer ahead on 1 of 3
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 71 minT4 | 71 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~72 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 33 mi | 33 mi |
Before kindergartenGroton ahead on 2 of 4
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 7 | 6 |
| Child care places | 160 | 225 |
| Centers vs family programs | 2 centers | 3 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 20 | 32 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Ayer | Groton | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,479 | 11,315 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
