Compare towns
Ayer vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
5,611 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Devens 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Rye and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Rye School District | — |
| 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 |
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.