What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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	Sterling
People
Population	8,645Highest	3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	39.4±5.9Highest about the U.S. average
	Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling 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 U.S.: 17.2%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ayer and Sterling 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 U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Sterling 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 26% above U.S.	$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Sterling 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 39% above U.S.	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Sterling 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	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Sterling 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.