Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Paxton
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).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,408Lowest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Paxton and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Paxton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Ayer and Paxton 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Ayer 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% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.