Compare towns
Ayer vs Grantham vs Springfield
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Grantham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Grantham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,465 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Grantham 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Springfield 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. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Springfield 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Grantham School District | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.