Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Newfields vs Ayer
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Lancaster | Newfields | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,023 |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Devens and Newfields 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 134% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.