What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bellingham has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Bellingham
People
Population	8,645Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
	Ayer and Bellingham 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham 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%	14.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bellingham 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%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Bellingham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Bellingham 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	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Bellingham
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.4Highest
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.