What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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	Dalton
People
Population	8,645Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton 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%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Dalton 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	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Dalton 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%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.