What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most homeowners (96%).

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	Webster	Ayer
People
Population	2,227Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Webster 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	Merrimack Valley School District	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.