Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).
Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Ayer | Chaplin | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,070Lowest |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.