What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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	Temple	Ayer
People
Population	1,363Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Temple and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Temple 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	Contoocook Valley 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 Our Story	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.