Compare towns
Wenham vs Ayer vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the most expensive homes ($885k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Ayer | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
8,645 |
9,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
37.5±6.9 6% below MA |
| Ayer and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamstown and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$106,650±$25k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,584±$292Highest 10% below MA |
| Williamstown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,290 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamstown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham and Williamstown 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ayer Shirley School District | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.