Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Abington | Ayer | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Abington and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.