Compare towns
Lee vs Ayer vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Ayer | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,645Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
— |
| Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.