Compare towns
Devens vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Dudley | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
11,929Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,911 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Dudley 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.