What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Leominster has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Leominster
People
Population	8,645Lowest	43,909Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA
	Leominster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Leominster 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%	19.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Leominster 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	$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA
	Ayer and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA
	Ayer and Leominster 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	$5,256Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Leominster 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%	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	26 minLowest 10% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#233 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Leominster
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Leominster High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.