What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).

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	Holbrook
People
Population	8,645Lowest	11,380Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA
	Holbrook 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 MA: 19.4%	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook 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 MA: 17.9%	19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Holbrook 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 MA: 47.3%	34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holbrook 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 about the MA average	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA
	Holbrook 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 17% below MA	$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA
	Holbrook 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 20% below MA	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA
	Ayer and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$6,105Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holbrook 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Holbrook
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.3Highest
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.