Compare towns
Ayer vs Stow vs West Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 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 | Stow | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
7,165Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Stow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Ayer 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Bridgewater and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$123,406±$23k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$503,800±$47k 10% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| West Bridgewater and Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,471 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and West Bridgewater 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.