What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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	Lowell
People
Population	8,645Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Lowell 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%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
	Ayer and Lowell 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	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA
	Lowell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Lowell
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.8Highest
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.