What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas
People
Population	8,645Lowest	9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas 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%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%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 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Douglas
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	7.2Lowest
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.