Compare towns
Ayer vs Suffield vs Warren 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 the most renters (41.9% rent).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Suffield | Warren | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
15,702Highest |
5,009 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Suffield 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,530Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Quaboag Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Quaboag Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.