Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($111k).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Exeter | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
7,195Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Warren 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,530Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Exeter 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter-West Greenwich | 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 |
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.