What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norton has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Norton
People
Population	8,645Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average
	Norton 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%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norton 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%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
	Norton 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	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Norton
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.9Lowest
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.