Compare towns
Ayer vs Dudley vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k 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 | Ayer | Dudley | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
11,929Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Brookfield and Dudley 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and North Brookfield 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.