What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Nashua	Ayer
People
Population	91,294Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.3Highest about the U.S. average	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Nashua and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nashua and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Nashua and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nashua and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashua School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.5Lowest
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.