Compare towns
Devens vs Ogunquit vs Russell 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Ogunquit | Russell | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,379 |
1,197Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older 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 |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | — | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school 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 | 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.