Compare towns

Lunenburg vs Ayer vs Raynham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Raynham has the most expensive homes ($524k median).

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.

MeasureLunenburgAyerRaynham
People
Population
11,902
8,645Lowest
15,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+14.2%
MA: +7.4%
+13.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±2.1Highest
8% above MA
39.2±2.8Lowest
about the MA average
42.9±1.5
7% above MA
Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.3%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.4%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.9%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.8%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Raynham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.3%
MA: 47.3%
39.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ayer and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,828±$11k
9% above MA
$101,875±$15kLowest
about the MA average
$124,012±$16kHighest
19% above MA
Raynham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$463,900±$24k
17% below MA
$463,800±$29kLowest
17% below MA
$524,400±$29kHighest
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,974±$586Highest
12% above MA
$1,415±$180Lowest
20% below MA
$1,749±$74
about the MA average
Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,401
7% above MA
$5,057Lowest
16% below MA
$6,752Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±13.5
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±14.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
67.1%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Raynham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
78.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
36 minHighest
25% above MA
Work from home
15.8%±3.5
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±5.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ayer and Lunenburg 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 #87 of 282 in MA #113 of 282 in MA #190 of 282 in MA
School district Lunenburg Ayer Shirley School District Bridgewater-Raynham
High school in town Lunenburg High Ayer Shirley Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Highest
11.5Lowest
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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.