Compare towns
Devens vs Upton vs Colebrook 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Upton | Colebrook | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
8,189Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ayer 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Upton and Devens 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
| Devens and Colebrook 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Upton 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Colebrook School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.