Compare towns
Devens vs Wolfeboro 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 highest household income ($189k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,571Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 134% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Wolfeboro 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 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.