Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs North Brookfield vs Warren
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 the most renters (41.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Ogunquit | North Brookfield | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,379Lowest |
4,760 |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63 31% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Brookfield and Ayer 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #270 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | North Brookfield | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | North Brookfield High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.