What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Springfield	Ayer
People
Population	154,749Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#276 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Springfield	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Springfield Central High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.