What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).

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	Hanover	Ayer
People
Population	14,845Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Hanover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Hanover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.