What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	8,645Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge 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%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Northbridge 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	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
	Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 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%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.