What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).

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	Peabody	Ayer
People
Population	54,695Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Highest 15% below MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.