What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	11,663Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Highest 6% 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	20.1%±3.3Lowest 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+	18.2%±2.3Highest 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+	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
	Pepperell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest 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	North Middlesex	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.