Compare towns
Ayer vs Rowley vs Rowley
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%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Rowley | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,708Lowest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Rowley 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% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Rowley 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Rowley 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 |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Rowley and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Rowley 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% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.