What stands out worked out from the figures below

Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Uxbridge	Ayer
People
Population	14,473Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2.8Highest 4% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Uxbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Uxbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,725±$7kHighest 20% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Uxbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest about the MA average	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%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 26% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Uxbridge 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	#183 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Uxbridge	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Uxbridge High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	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.