Compare towns
Ayer vs Epping vs Devens vs West Bridgewater
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Epping | Devens | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
7,430 |
1,723Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and West Bridgewater 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Devens and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Devens and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,471 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Epping School District | — | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Epping High School | — | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.