What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lynn has the most renters (51.9% 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	Lynn
People
Population	8,645Lowest	101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA
	Ayer and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lynn 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%	13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Lynn 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%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lynn 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	$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA
	Lynn and Ayer 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	$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$5,384Highest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lynn 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%	13.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	32 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#277 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Lynn
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	15.0Highest
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.