What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Clinton	Ayer
People
Population	15,563Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
	Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Clinton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,654Lowest 22% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Clinton	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Clinton Senior High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.5Lowest
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.