What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the highest household income ($102k).

Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 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	Easthampton
People
Population	8,645Lowest	16,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Easthampton 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%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton 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 about the MA average	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA
	Ayer and Easthampton 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	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Easthampton 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%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Easthampton 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	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Easthampton
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	9.8Lowest
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.