Compare towns
Devens vs Peabody vs Ayer
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).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peabody | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
54,695Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Devens and Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 82% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Peabody 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 |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Peabody and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Peabody 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% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Peabody | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.