Compare towns
Ayer vs Warner vs Webster
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%).
Warner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Warner | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
2,959 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Warner 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% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner 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 26% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Webster 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. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Webster 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | 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.