Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin 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 expensive homes ($464k median).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
2,070Lowest |
2,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Sprague and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest 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% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,247±$144Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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 | — | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.