Compare towns
Devens 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 most people working from home (28.5%).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Newfields | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,023 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ayer and Devens 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% 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. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Newfields 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 | — | Newfields School District | 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 → |
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.