What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Mansfield	Ayer
People
Population	23,931Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Mansfield High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.5Highest
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.