What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).

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	Hollis
People
Population	8,645Highest	8,603Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hollis 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%	23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Hollis 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 26% above U.S.	$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.	$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S.
	Hollis and Ayer 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Hollis 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%	1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hollis and Ayer 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	#8 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Hollis-Brookline High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.8Highest
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.