What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).

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	Needham	Ayer
People
Population	32,459Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Needham High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.5Lowest
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.