What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).

Windham has the highest household income ($190k).

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	Windham
People
Population	8,645Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S.
	Windham 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 U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Windham 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 26% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham 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%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham 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	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Windham School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.8Highest
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.