Compare towns
Ayer vs Ashby vs West Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Ashby | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,211Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$123,406±$23kHighest 19% above MA |
| West Bridgewater and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$503,800±$47kHighest 10% below MA |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$6,471Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.