What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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	Sharon	Ayer
People
Population	1,577Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Sharon 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Sharon 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 History	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.