Compare towns
Devens vs Union vs Ayer vs Russell
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
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 | Union | Ayer | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
944Lowest |
8,645Highest |
1,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
| Union and Devens 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Russell 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below 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±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Devens 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3 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 | — | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Union 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 → | 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.