Compare towns
Sprague vs Ayer vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sprague | Ayer | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
8,645Highest |
4,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
| Sprague and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 15% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 50% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.