Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Blackstone vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Ogunquit | Blackstone | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,379Lowest |
9,255Highest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Blackstone-Millville | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Blackstone Millville RHS | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.