Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Gardner
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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Devens | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Devens and Gardner 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Gardner 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%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| 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±$180 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Devens 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 |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Gardner |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.