Compare towns
Ayer vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Ayer 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | Strafford 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.