Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Fall River vs Abington
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%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Devens | Fall River | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
94,082Highest |
17,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River 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 MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Abington 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
| Devens and Abington 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 |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
| Devens and Abington 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 |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
| Abington and Devens 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 |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | B M C Durfee High | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.