What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).

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	Ayer	Ayer
People
Population	3,098Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older 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	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	—	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
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.