Compare towns
Ayer vs Sturbridge vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
9,960Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Ayer and Sturbridge 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 |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.