Compare towns
Devens vs Everett vs East Brookfield 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).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
East Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($381k median).
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 | Everett | East Brookfield | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
50,045Highest |
2,166 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
52.1±6.4Highest 30% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
| East Brookfield 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$81,042±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$381,200±$30kLowest 32% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Everett and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,142±$33Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Everett and Devens 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,430Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Everett 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.