Compare towns
Ayer vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
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 | Northbridge | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
16,458 |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
| Abington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Abington 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.