Compare towns
Devens vs Bernardston vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Devens | Bernardston | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,164 |
3,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Bernardston and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 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 | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
| Devens and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,911 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 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 | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | — | Pioneer Valley | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.