Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Northbridge
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 expensive homes ($540k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
8,645Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Northbridge 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Ayer 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Abington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Abington and Ayer 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.