What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k 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.

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

Measure	Andover	Ayer
People
Population	36,652Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Andover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Andover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	—
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.