Compare towns
Devens vs Everett vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Everett 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% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$444,600±$43k 21% 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 |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,911 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.