Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Colebrook | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,494Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6%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% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Colebrook 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. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Colebrook 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. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.