What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Cumberland
People
Population	8,645Lowest	36,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Cumberland 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%	18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cumberland 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%	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Cumberland 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 26% above U.S.	$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Cumberland 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 39% above U.S.	$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Ayer and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cumberland 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 U.S.: 12.5%	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Cumberland 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	#18 of 38 in RI
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Cumberland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.