What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).

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	Topsfield	Ayer
People
Population	6,564Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Topsfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Ayer 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	#172 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Topsfield	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 →

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.