Compare towns
Ayer vs Willington vs Brooklyn
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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Willington | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
5,575Lowest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Brooklyn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Brooklyn 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. |
$305,800±$48kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,357±$116 4% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,419Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Brooklyn 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Willington School District | Brooklyn 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.