Compare towns
Ayer vs Ledyard 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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
West Bridgewater has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Ledyard | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
15,433Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.4±4.4 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bridgewater and Ledyard 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% |
40.5%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%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ledyard 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Ledyard 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. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$503,800±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer 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 |
$1,629±$247 15% above U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Ledyard 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. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$6,471Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and West Bridgewater 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ledyard School District | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ledyard High School | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.5Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.