Compare towns
Windsor vs Ayer vs Cheshire
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 highest household income ($116k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Windsor | Ayer | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
8,645Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire 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 |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Windsor and Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.