What stands out worked out from the figures below

Abington has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Abington	Ayer
People
Population	17,053Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
	Ayer and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,045Highest 18% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Abington 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	#143 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Abington	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Abington High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.