Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Stoneham
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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Devens and Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Stoneham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Stoneham 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.