What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51).

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Salisbury	Ayer
People
Population	5,656Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
	Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest 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	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Salisbury 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	#240 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 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.