What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).

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	Northbridge	Ayer
People
Population	16,458Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Northbridge High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.5Highest
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.