What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Naples has the oldest population (median age 49.8).

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	Naples
People
Population	8,645Highest	3,985Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Naples 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.	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.
	Ayer and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S.
	Naples and Ayer 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.	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples 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%	9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.7Highest
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.