What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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	Hermon
People
Population	8,645Highest	6,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	41.1±4.7Highest 6% above U.S.
	Hermon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Ayer 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%	20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hermon 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 26% above U.S.	$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Ayer and Hermon 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.	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Hermon 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%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.6Highest
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.