Compare towns
Ayer vs Douglas vs Uxbridge
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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Douglas | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| Douglas and Uxbridge 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Uxbridge and Douglas 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Douglas 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.