What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	8,645Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Ayer and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.