Compare towns
Morris vs Ayer vs Middlefield
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 highest household income ($109k).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Morris | Ayer | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
8,645Highest |
4,243 |
| 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 |
51.6±1.9 33% above U.S. |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%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% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield 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±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Morris and Ayer 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. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Morris 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Ayer Shirley School District | Regional School District 13 |
| 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.