What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).

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	Seabrook	Ayer
People
Population	8,427Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Seabrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,785Highest 85% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Seabrook and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#114 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Seabrook 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 Our Story	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.