What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).

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	Norfolk	Ayer
People
Population	11,673Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Norfolk and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Norfolk and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Norfolk and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,651Highest 61% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norfolk and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.2%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norfolk 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	#123 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	King Philip · Millis	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.