What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

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	Warren	Ayer
People
Population	5,009Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
	Ayer and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Warren and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,530Lowest 24% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#165 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Quaboag Regional High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	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.