What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k 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	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	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%	20.3%±3.9Lowest 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%	14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest 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	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.5Lowest
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.