What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Springfield
People
Population	8,645Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield 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 MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Springfield
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.2Highest
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.