What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).

Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).

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	Barnet
People
Population	8,645Highest	61Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	62.2±45.8Highest 60% above U.S.
	Barnet 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 U.S.: 22%	31.1%±29.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barnet 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 U.S.: 17.2%	36.1%±44.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnet 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Barnet 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 26% above U.S.	$57,917±$16kLowest 28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$204,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$2,950Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	47.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 min 25% above U.S.	—
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	55%±29Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnet and Ayer 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	—
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	—
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.