What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has the highest household income ($142k).

Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).

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	Holden	Ayer
People
Population	20,064Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Highest 4% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kHighest 16% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Holden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Highest 6% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Holden 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	#57 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	11.5Lowest
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.