Compare towns
Ayer vs Mendon vs Rochester
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%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,325 |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
| Rochester and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mendon-Upton | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.