What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the highest household income ($124k).

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	Maynard	Ayer
People
Population	10,712Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Maynard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Maynard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard 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	#166 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Maynard High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	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.