What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend	Ayer
People
Population	9,100Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.5Lowest
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.