What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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	North Reading
People
Population	8,645Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading 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%	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	North Reading
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.1Lowest
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.