What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dudley has the shortest commute (27 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	Dudley
People
Population	8,645Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average
	Dudley 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%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley 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%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Ayer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley 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 MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.