Compare towns
Ayer vs Lowell vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Lowell | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Springfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Ayer and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Lowell and Ayer 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 |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lowell | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lowell High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.