What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	8,645Lowest	11,663Highest
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	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Ayer 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	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
	Pepperell and Ayer 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	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
	Ayer and Pepperell 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.