What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner	Ayer
People
Population	21,148Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.5Lowest
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.