Compare towns
Ayer vs Fall River 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%).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).
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 | Fall River | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
94,082Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest 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% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Brookfield and Fall River 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% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Brookfield 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 28% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| North Brookfield 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±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Ayer and Fall River 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 |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Ayer and Fall River 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 |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Fall River and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
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.