What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Southwick has the most homeowners (83.4%).

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	Southwick
People
Population	8,645Lowest	9,217Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Southwick 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%	21%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average	$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA
	Southwick 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	$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA
	Ayer and Southwick 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	$5,331Highest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Southwick 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.0Lowest
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.