What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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	Meredith
People
Population	8,645Highest	6,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Meredith 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 26% above U.S.	$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S.
	Ayer and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.	$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S.
	Meredith and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Ayer and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Meredith and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#62 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	None yet

U.S. 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.