What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).

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	Seabrook
People
Population	8,645Highest	8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Seabrook 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%	31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Seabrook 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.	$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Ayer and Seabrook 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.	$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S.
	Seabrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,785Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Seabrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#114 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Seabrook School District
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.