Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Webster | Ayer | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
8,645Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±7.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
| New Durham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,774 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.