What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).

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	Lisbon	Ayer
People
Population	4,211Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$315,700±$26kLowest 5% below U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#102 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Lisbon 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	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.