Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs Upton vs Devens
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Needham | Upton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
32,459Highest |
8,189 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Upton 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Devens 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Needham and Devens 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Devens 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.