Compare towns
Ayer vs Griswold vs Putnam
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%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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 | Griswold | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,530Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam 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% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Griswold 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Griswold 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. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Ayer 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Griswold School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Griswold High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.