Compare towns
Morris vs Ayer vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.
| Measure | Morris | Ayer | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
8,645Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Morris and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Morris 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.