What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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	Stoneham	Ayer
People
Population	23,355Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham and Ayer 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	#117 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Stoneham High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.5Highest
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.