What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).

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	North Brookfield
People
Population	3,098Lowest	4,760Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield 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%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and North Brookfield 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%	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield 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	$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA
	North Brookfield 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	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 18% below MA	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield 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%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Brookfield
High school in town	—	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	5.5
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.