Compare towns
Ayer vs Upton vs Devens vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 | Upton | Devens | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
8,189Highest |
1,723Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Upton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | — | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.