Compare towns
Ayer vs Windham 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 renters (41.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,530Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Ayer 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.