What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	8,645Highest	8,374Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+12.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster 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%	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Westminster 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	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average
	Westminster 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±$29kHighest 17% below MA	$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA
	Ayer and Westminster 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	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA
	Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 16% below MA	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster 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%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%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 minHighest 13% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Westminster 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	#112 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.