What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Pomfret	Ayer
People
Population	4,317Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Pomfret 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	#39 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Pomfret School District	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 History	None yet	12 photos →

U.S. 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.