What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakham 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	Oakham
People
Population	3,098Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
	Oakham 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%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Oakham 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%	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Oakham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Oakham 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	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham 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	$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA
	Ayer and Oakham 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	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Ayer and Oakham 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	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Quabbin
High school in town	—	None in town
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.