What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).

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	Lee	Ayer
People
Population	4,576Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 210% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lee and Ayer 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	#3 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	10 photos →	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.