Compare towns
Ayer vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
27,793Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and Ayer 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Wakefield and Devens 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.