What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).

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	Walpole	Ayer
People
Population	26,388Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Walpole and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Walpole and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 42% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Walpole 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	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 13 yrs newer than MA	1977 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole 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	#107 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Walpole High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.