What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).

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	Sturbridge	Ayer
People
Population	9,960Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Sturbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA
	Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA
	Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 9% above MA	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	—
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.