Compare towns
Ayer vs Putnam 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 the most people working from home (19.8%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
9,292Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.