What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas	Ayer
People
Population	9,207Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	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.