Compare towns
Ayer vs Deerfield vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
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 | Deerfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,158Lowest |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Deerfield 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% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
| Deerfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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 MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Salisbury 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Triton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.