Compare towns
Devens vs Dover 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Dover | Ayer | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
5,930 |
8,645Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
| Devens and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
| Dover and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Devens 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.