What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).

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	Preston
People
Population	3,098Lowest	4,821Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S.	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Preston 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 U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Preston 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 7% below U.S.	$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
	Preston 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 34% above U.S.	$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average
	Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 57% above U.S.	$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Preston 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 U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Preston School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.