Compare towns
Raynham vs Ayer vs Taunton
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%).
Taunton has the shortest commute (29 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 | Raynham | Ayer | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,505 |
8,645Lowest |
60,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.5Highest 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Raynham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Taunton and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Taunton and Ayer 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 |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,752Highest 13% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 25% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #190 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bridgewater-Raynham | Ayer Shirley School District | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.