What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson	Ayer
People
Population	9,337Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	11.5Highest
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.