What stands out worked out from the figures below

Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).

Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).

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	Morris	Ayer
People
Population	2,164Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Morris and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Morris and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$134Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,273Highest 69% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Morris and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Morris 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 20	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.