What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).

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	Saugus	Ayer
People
Population	28,773Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Saugus and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 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	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Saugus 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	#194 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Saugus High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.5Lowest
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.