What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunderland has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Sunderland	Ayer
People
Population	3,641Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
	Ayer and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sunderland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,100±$52kLowest 19% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Sunderland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,611Highest 6% below MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 41% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Sunderland 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	#220 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Sunderland	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 →

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.