Compare towns

Raynham vs Ayer vs Middleborough

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Raynham has the highest household income ($124k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Middleborough has the shortest commute (31 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.

MeasureRaynhamAyerMiddleborough
People
Population
15,505
8,645Lowest
24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.1%
MA: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.5
7% above MA
39.2±2.8Lowest
about the MA average
43.4±2.1Highest
9% above MA
Middleborough and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.3%±3.9
MA: 19.4%
18.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Raynham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Middleborough and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%
MA: 47.3%
42.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
32%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ayer and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,012±$16kHighest
19% above MA
$101,875±$15k
about the MA average
$97,056±$7kLowest
7% below MA
Raynham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$524,400±$29kHighest
7% below MA
$463,800±$29kLowest
17% below MA
$468,700±$18k
17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,749±$74Highest
about the MA average
$1,415±$180Lowest
20% below MA
$1,706±$72
3% below MA
Raynham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,752Highest
13% above MA
$5,057Lowest
16% below MA
$6,023
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.1%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±14.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.2%±11.4
MA: 51.8%
Raynham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
MA: 10%
10.7%Highest
MA: 10%
6.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
76.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1977Lowest
13 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
25% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
Work from home
11.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±5.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.6%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
Ayer and Middleborough 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 #190 of 282 in MA #113 of 282 in MA #170 of 282 in MA
School district Bridgewater-Raynham Ayer Shirley School District Middleborough
High school in town None in town Ayer Shirley Regional High School Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Highest
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.