Compare towns
Devens vs Wenham 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).
Wenham has the most expensive homes ($885k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
4,929 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Wenham 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Wenham and Devens 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 |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
— | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham 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 | — | #74 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | 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 → |
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.