Compare towns
Devens vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Stow | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
7,165Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Devens and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow 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 MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 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 |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
| Devens and Stow 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 |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
| Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.