Compare towns
Ayer vs Middleborough vs Raynham
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%).
Middleborough has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Raynham has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Middleborough | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
24,505Highest |
15,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Middleborough and Raynham 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% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Raynham 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% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham and Ayer 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 |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Raynham and Middleborough 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 |
$6,023 about the MA average |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Middleborough 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Middleborough | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Middleborough High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.