What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Ayer has the highest household income ($102k).

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	Easthampton	Ayer
People
Population	16,086Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Easthampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Easthampton 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	#92 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Easthampton High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.5Highest
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.