What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wrentham has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Wrentham
People
Population	8,645Lowest	12,297Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average	46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Wrentham 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%	21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wrentham 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	$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA	$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA	$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA
	Ayer and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA	$7,373Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Wrentham 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%	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wrentham 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	#49 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	King Philip · Wrentham
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	King Philip Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.5Highest
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.