What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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	Dalton	Ayer
People
Population	6,256Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.