Compare towns
Devens vs Nashua 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).
Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Nashua | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
91,294Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Nashua 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% |
16.9%±1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nashua 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% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Nashua 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. |
$96,326±$5k 19% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| 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±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Nashua 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. |
$6,799Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 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 | — | #67 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashua School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Nashua High School South | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.