Compare towns
Ashby vs Ayer vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Holland has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Ashby | Ayer | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,645Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$91,979±$12kLowest 12% below MA |
| Ashby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,750±$209Highest about the MA average |
| Holland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Holland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.