Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Putnam
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 the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Devens and Putnam 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam 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% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.