What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).

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	Dudley
People
Population	3,098Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
	Ayer and Dudley 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%	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA
	Dudley 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±$43kHighest 21% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
	Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Ayer and Dudley 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	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	—	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
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.