Compare towns
Devens vs Hampton vs Ayer vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hampton | Ayer | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,647Lowest |
8,645Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Bernardston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 134% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 78% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.