Compare towns
Devens vs Mendon vs Ayer vs Russell
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).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Mendon | Ayer | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
6,325 |
8,645Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
| Devens and Russell 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Mendon 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 MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Devens and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Mendon and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.