What stands out worked out from the figures below

Georgetown 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	Georgetown	Ayer
People
Population	8,474Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.5Highest 7% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Georgetown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Georgetown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Georgetown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,272Highest 21% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Georgetown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Georgetown 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	#140 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Georgetown	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Georgetown High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	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.