What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).

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	Walpole
People
Population	8,645Lowest	26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average
	Walpole 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 MA: 19.4%	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Ayer 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%	16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Walpole 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%	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole 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	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$8,523Highest 42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Walpole 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%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 13 yrs newer than MA	1977 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and Ayer 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	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.3Lowest
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.