What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend
People
Population	3,098Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Ayer and Townsend 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Ayer 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%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Ayer and Townsend 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	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Middlesex
High school in town	—	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
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.