What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).

Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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	Colebrook
People
Population	3,098Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S.	52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Colebrook 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 U.S.: 22%	17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook 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 7% below U.S.	$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S.	$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S.
	Colebrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S.	$6,211Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Colebrook School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.