Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Norwell
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%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Dunstable | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
3,408Lowest |
11,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Dunstable and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Dunstable 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norwell and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Dunstable and Norwell 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 |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Norwell |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.