Compare towns
Ayer vs Dudley vs Ware vs Devens
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 renters (41.9% rent).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Ware | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA 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 30% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| 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 18% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.