What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Dover	Ayer
People
Population	33,364Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Dover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.5Lowest
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.