Compare towns
Wrentham vs Ayer vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has the highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Wrentham | Ayer | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297 |
8,645Lowest |
14,027Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.5±3.9 16% above MA |
| Wrentham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$119,876±$13k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$610,600±$30k 9% above MA |
| Wrentham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA |
| Ayer and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373 23% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,650Highest 28% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Ayer 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District | Kingston · Silver Lake |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Silver Lake Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.