What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	8,645Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence 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 about the MA average	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
	Ayer and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Lawrence
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.6Highest
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.