What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunderland has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Sunderland
People
Population	8,645Highest	3,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average	35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA
	Ayer and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sunderland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average	$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$458,100±$52kLowest 19% below MA
	Ayer and Sunderland 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	$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA
	Sunderland 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	$5,611Highest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	42%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	17 minLowest 41% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Sunderland 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	#220 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Sunderland
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.