What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling 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	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	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±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
	Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
	Sterling and Ayer 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	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling 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%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Wachusett
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

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.