What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k 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	East Hampton
People
Population	8,645Lowest	12,925Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	43.6±3.7Highest 12% above U.S.
	East Hampton 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 U.S.: 22%	21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	East Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	East Hampton 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 26% above U.S.	$124,577±$11kHighest 54% above U.S.
	East Hampton and Ayer 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.	$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and East Hampton 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.	$6,681Highest 114% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	East Hampton 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#75 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	East Hampton School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	East Hampton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.3Lowest
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.