What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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	Wayne	Ayer
People
Population	1,101Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wayne and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wayne 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 38	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

U.S. 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.