What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	8,645Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Wolfeboro 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%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Wolfeboro 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.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Ayer and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.1Lowest
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.