What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most homeowners (76.9%).

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	Middleborough
People
Population	8,645Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA
	Middleborough 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%	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	32%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Middleborough 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	$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA
	Ayer and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA
	Middleborough 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	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$6,023Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Middleborough 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%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	76.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Middleborough
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.3Lowest
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.