What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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

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	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 23% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest 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%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest 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±$10kLowest 21% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Bernardston 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	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Bernardston 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	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest 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	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 →

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.