What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Jaffrey	Ayer
People
Population	5,448Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Jaffrey and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jaffrey and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,196Highest 99% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jaffrey 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#87 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Conant Middle High School (H)	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	21.3Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.