Compare towns
Ayer vs Bloomfield vs West Bridgewater
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%).
Bloomfield has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
West Bridgewater has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Bloomfield | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
21,754Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bloomfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$98,725±$14kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater 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±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$286,900±$11kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$503,800±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,881±$175 33% above U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,795 86% above U.S. |
$6,471Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bloomfield and West Bridgewater 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Bloomfield 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.