What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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	Wareham	Ayer
People
Population	23,302Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%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	1958Lowest 6 yrs older 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	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	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.