Compare towns
Ayer vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
22,233Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | — | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.