Compare towns
Rumney vs Ayer vs Orford
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 homeowners (77.8%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Orford has the shortest commute (26 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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458 |
8,645Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Rumney 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Ayer 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Rumney 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.