Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($464k median).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.