What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Willington has the most affordable homes ($306k median).

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	Willington
People
Population	8,645Highest	5,575Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Ayer and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Willington 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.	$91,114±$12kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Ayer and Willington 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.	$305,800±$48kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,357±$116Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Ayer and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,419Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Willington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#104 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Willington School District
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

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.