Compare towns
Ayer vs Derby vs Devens
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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Derby | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
12,487Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Derby 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Devens 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 26% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Derby 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. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Derby School District | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Derby High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
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| 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.