Compare towns
Ayer vs Upton vs Ware 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 | Upton | Ware | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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±$15k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Upton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% 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 | $5,057 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.