Compare towns
Springfield vs Ayer vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Springfield | Ayer | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
8,645Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Springfield 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 | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school 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.