Compare towns
Devens vs Windsor Locks vs Ayer vs Bernardston
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ayer | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
12,579Highest |
3,098 |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Bernardston 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Devens and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.