What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner
People
Population	8,645Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Gardner
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.5Highest
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.