What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the most homeowners (77.9%).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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	Bernardston	Ayer
People
Population	2,164Lowest	3,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
	Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA	$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA
	Bernardston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 25% below MA	$4,911Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Bernardston 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
School district	Pioneer Valley	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.