Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Wayne vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Devens | Wayne | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723 |
1,101Lowest |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Devens 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Wayne 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 | — | — | RSU 38 | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.