Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin vs Devens vs Upton
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Chaplin | Devens | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
2,070 |
1,723Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Devens and Upton 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% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Devens 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. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Devens and Upton 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Devens and Chaplin 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.