What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerset has the most homeowners (86.9%).

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	Somerset
People
Population	8,645Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Somerset 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%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Somerset 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	$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA
	Somerset 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±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
	Ayer and Somerset 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	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
	Ayer and Somerset 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	$4,977Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset 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%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.