Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs West Bridgewater
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).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 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 | Needham | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
32,459Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Bridgewater 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,406±$23k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$503,800±$47k 10% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,921±$320 9% above MA |
| Needham and West Bridgewater 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,471 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and West Bridgewater 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Needham | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Needham High | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.