Compare towns
Windsor vs Ayer vs Cummington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Cummington has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Windsor | Ayer | Cummington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065 |
3,098Highest |
902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA |
| Cummington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.2%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cummington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$104,167±$32k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$300,600±$32kLowest 47% below MA |
| Ayer and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA |
$825±$365Lowest 53% below MA |
| Ayer and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$3,875 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
22.8%±27.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 34% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.9%±10Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cummington and Windsor 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.