What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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	Marblehead
People
Population	8,645Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead 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 MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	—
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.