What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Bourne	Ayer
People
Population	20,323Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Bourne 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	#206 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.5Highest
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.