Compare towns
Wayne vs Ayer vs Bremen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bremen has the shortest commute (22 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 | Wayne | Ayer | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
8,645Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±8.2 34% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.1%±9.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bremen and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$100,000±$21k 24% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$425,300±$28k 28% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 5% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,829Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Bremen 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 | RSU 38 | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| 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.