Compare towns
Ayer vs Cumberland vs Northbridge
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%).
Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Cumberland | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
36,820Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Northbridge 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% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Northbridge 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Northbridge 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. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Cumberland 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. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Cumberland 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Cumberland High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.