What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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	Strafford	Ayer
People
Population	1,372Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Strafford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Ayer and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Strafford 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	Strafford 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.