Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Union 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 highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Union | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
8,606Highest |
944Lowest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Union 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster 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. |
— | $1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Devens 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Devens 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% |
5.7% 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% |
92.9%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. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
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% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 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 | Union 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.