What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Exeter has the shortest commute (25 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	Exeter
People
Population	8,645Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter 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.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter 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.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Ayer and Exeter 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	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	59 photos →

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.