What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	8,645Lowest	12,487Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby 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 26% above U.S.	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Derby 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.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average
	Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Derby School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	None yet

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.