What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).

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	Fairhaven
People
Population	8,645Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Fairhaven 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	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Ayer and Fairhaven 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	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven 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%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.4Lowest
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.