What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	3,098Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Middlesex
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.