What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	8,645Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
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%	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury 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±$15kHighest about the MA average	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA
	Ayer and Salisbury 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	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA
	Salisbury 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	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA
	Salisbury and Ayer 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	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury 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%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Triton
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.