Compare towns
Ayer vs Webster vs Whitman
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
40.4±1.8Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman 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 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.