What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter 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	Exeter
People
Population	8,645Highest	7,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Ayer and Exeter 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%	19.7%±4.7Lowest 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%	18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter 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%	46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±6.3Highest 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.	$111,250±$30kHighest 38% 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±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.	$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S.
	Ayer and Exeter 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.	$5,881Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	22 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±6.1Lowest 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	#14 of 38 in RI
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.