What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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	Danielson	Ayer
People
Population	4,209Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S.	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Danielson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Ayer Shirley School District
High school 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.