What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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	Stoughton
People
Population	8,645Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Stoughton 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%	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton 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	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average
	Stoughton 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	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$6,215Highest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	8.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Stoughton 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	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Stoughton
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.8Lowest
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.