Compare towns
Ayer vs Northbridge 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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
West Bridgewater has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
16,458Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Bridgewater and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 |
$123,406±$23kHighest 19% above MA |
| West Bridgewater 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 |
$503,800±$47kHighest 10% below MA |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,471Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Bridgewater and Northbridge 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest 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 | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.