Compare towns
Rumney vs Ayer vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 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 | Rumney | Ayer | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458Lowest |
8,645Highest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±10.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,143±$498 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 51% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Lincoln 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 | Rumney School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.