What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dover has the shortest commute (23 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	Dover
People
Population	8,645Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Dover 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%	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover 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%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover 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.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Ayer and Dover 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.	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
	Dover 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.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Dover School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.7Highest
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.