Compare towns
Ayer vs Dalton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Dalton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,256 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Dalton 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 about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Washington 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.