Compare towns
Ayer vs Worcester vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Worcester | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
207,055Highest |
17,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Ayer and Abington 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%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Worcester 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
| Abington 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
| Abington and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Abington 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | South High Community | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.