Compare towns
Ayer vs Rumney vs Warner
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Warner has the shortest commute (32 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 | Rumney | Warner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,458Lowest |
2,959 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
| Rumney and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rumney and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Warner 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. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Warner and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Warner 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Rumney School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.