Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Marblehead
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 about the MA average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Devens and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Marblehead and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Devens 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.