Compare towns
Raynham Center vs Northbridge vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raynham Center has the highest household income ($132k).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Raynham Center | Northbridge | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,841Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±3.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham Center and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Raynham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,382±$14kHighest 27% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Raynham Center and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $547,700±$56kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Raynham Center and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$39Highest about the MA average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±32.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham Center and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.