What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Griswold	Ayer
People
Population	11,530Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Griswold and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#118 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Griswold School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Griswold High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	11.5
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.