What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).

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	Pembroke	Ayer
People
Population	18,382Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pembroke and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pembroke and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Highest 10% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Pembroke	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.5Lowest
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.