What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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	9,281Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest 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	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% 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	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% 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	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA	$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	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Lowest 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	Triton	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.