What stands out worked out from the figures below

Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).

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	Campton	Ayer
People
Population	3,407Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±3.7Highest 26% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Campton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Campton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,870±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Campton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,300±$38kLowest 7% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,028Highest 93% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Campton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	28.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Campton 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	#68 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Campton 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.