Compare towns
Ayer vs Topsfield vs Devens
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%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Topsfield | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,564 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Topsfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Topsfield | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.