Compare towns
Ayer vs Maynard vs Abington
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%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Maynard | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,712 |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Ayer 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
| Abington and Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
| Abington and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,724±$250 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Abington 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,045 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Abington 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Maynard | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Maynard High | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.