What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the shortest commute (24 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	Freeport	Ayer
People
Population	8,802Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.