What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Jaffrey
People
Population	8,645Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S.
	Jaffrey 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%	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey 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%	18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jaffrey 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%	31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Jaffrey 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.	$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Ayer and Jaffrey 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.	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,196Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jaffrey 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	21.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.