What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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	Goffstown
People
Population	8,645Lowest	18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S.
	Goffstown 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 U.S.: 22%	16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Goffstown 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%	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goffstown 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%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.	$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Goffstown 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.	$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Ayer and Goffstown 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.	$6,941Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Goffstown 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Goffstown 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	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.6Highest
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.