Compare towns
Ayer vs Mansfield vs Stoneham
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%).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Mansfield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
23,931Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
| Stoneham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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 about the MA average |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Stoneham 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mansfield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mansfield High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.