What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

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	Ledyard	Ayer
People
Population	15,433Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S.	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,975±$10kHighest 34% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,371Highest 104% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ledyard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#99 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Ledyard School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Ledyard 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.