Compare towns
Devens vs Dalton 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).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dalton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,256 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% 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 |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.