What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).

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	Raymond
People
Population	8,645Highest	4,610Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	47.3±4.1Highest 22% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Raymond 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%	22.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Raymond 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 U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Raymond 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.	$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Ayer and Raymond 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.	$395,800±$42kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Ayer and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Ayer and Raymond 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.	$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.3%±62.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Raymond 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Raymond 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	#112 of 133 in ME
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	RSU 14
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 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.