What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).

Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Suffield	Ayer
People
Population	15,702Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,456Highest 107% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Suffield 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	#57 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Suffield School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Suffield High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.5Highest
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.