Compare towns
Ayer vs Lee vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
5,719 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
— |
| Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.