What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Bourne
People
Population	8,645Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Bourne 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%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne 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±$15kHighest about the MA average	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
	Ayer and Bourne 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	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
	Ayer and Bourne 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	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne 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%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Bourne 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	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	9.8Lowest
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.