Compare towns
Ayer vs Jericho vs Abington vs Blackstone
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%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Jericho | Abington | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,114Lowest |
17,053Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Blackstone 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% |
20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jericho and Blackstone 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% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Abington 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. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Abington and Jericho 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. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Abington and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Abington 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. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$7,045 126% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Blackstone 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #143 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Abington | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Abington High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.0 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.