What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).

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	Chilmark	Ayer
People
Population	1,578Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+40%Highest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Chilmark and Ayer 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	30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 8% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chilmark 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Up-Island Regional	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.