What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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	Athol
People
Population	8,645Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA
	Ayer and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.