Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter vs Scituate vs Devens
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%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Exeter | Scituate | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
7,195 |
10,517Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Devens 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% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | — | Exeter-West Greenwich | Scituate | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Scituate High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.