Compare towns
Ayer vs Cavendish vs Sharon
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%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Cavendish 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. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Sharon 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. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Cavendish 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Cavendish 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Sharon 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 → | 18 photos → | 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.