What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).

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	Middleton	Ayer
People
Population	9,816Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Highest 8% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Middleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Middleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,785Highest 47% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Middleton 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	#71 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleton	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 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.