What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).

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	Berkley
People
Population	8,645Highest	6,829Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA
	Berkley 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%	21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Berkley 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%	15.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Berkley 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%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Berkley and Ayer 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	$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA
	Berkley 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA
	Berkley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180 20% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$6,018Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Berkley 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%	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Berkley 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	#155 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Berkley
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.