What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k 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	Marshfield	Ayer
People
Population	25,879Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Highest 11% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield 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	#54 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Marshfield High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.