Compare towns

Ayer vs Coventry vs Abington

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%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

MeasureAyerCoventryAbington
People
Population
8,645Lowest
35,907Highest
17,053
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±2.8
about the U.S. average
44±1.1Highest
13% above U.S.
39.1±1.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
20.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Abington 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%
19.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Coventry and Abington 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.
$102,946±$8k
28% above U.S.
$125,400±$12kHighest
55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$463,800±$29k
39% above U.S.
$356,200±$11kLowest
7% above U.S.
$539,600±$34kHighest
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,415±$180
about the U.S. average
$1,206±$155Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,724±$250Highest
22% above U.S.
Abington and Ayer 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.
$5,099
63% above U.S.
$7,045Highest
126% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±14.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±11
U.S.: 51.1%
Coventry and Abington 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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Ayer and Abington 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 #24 of 38 in RI #143 of 282 in MA
School district Ayer Shirley School District Coventry Abington
High school in town Ayer Shirley Regional High School Coventry High School Abington High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
12.3Highest
11.3Lowest
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.