Compare towns
Ayer vs Springfield vs Temple
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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Temple 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Temple 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. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Temple 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Temple 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 | — | Contoocook Valley 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.