What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bartlett has the oldest population (median age 57.4).

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Bartlett	Ayer
People
Population	3,281Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bartlett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bartlett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Bartlett 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	#74 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Bartlett School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.