What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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	Athol	Ayer
People
Population	12,011Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Athol High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	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.