Compare towns
Ayer vs Bow 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
8,335 |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Ayer 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bridgewater and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Bow and West Bridgewater 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 |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,471 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Bow School District | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bow High School | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.