Compare towns
Ayer vs Bethlehem vs Sprague
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Bethlehem | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,423 |
2,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,668Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Regional School District 14 | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.