What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has the most expensive homes ($615k median).

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	Rowley	Ayer
People
Population	1,708Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±16.7Highest 16% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,622±$17kHighest 5% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$614,800±$39kHighest 9% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,865Highest 15% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±45.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Rowley 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	#214 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.