What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Westminster	Ayer
People
Population	8,374Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%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	27 minLowest 7% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Westminster 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	#112 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.5Lowest
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.