What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).

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	Pepperell	Ayer
People
Population	1,971Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,871Highest 15% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	—	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
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.