What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Bourne has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Bourne
People
Population	3,098Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne 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	$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA
	Bourne 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	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA
	Bourne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 18% below MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Bourne 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	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	—	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.