What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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	Everett
People
Population	3,098Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
	Ayer and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Everett 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%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Everett 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%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Everett 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	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
	Everett 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	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 18% below MA	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett 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%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Everett
High school in town	—	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
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.