Compare towns
Devens vs Chicopee vs Ayer 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).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Chicopee | Ayer | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
55,295Highest |
8,645 |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee 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% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% 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 |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer 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 |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,911 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Chicopee 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% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | #247 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chicopee | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.