Compare towns
Ayer vs Danvers vs Middleton vs Ogunquit
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 affordable homes ($464k median).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Danvers | Middleton | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
28,098Highest |
9,816 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Ogunquit 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. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.