What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).

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	Williston	Ayer
People
Population	10,144Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,592Highest 79% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Williston 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	#11 of 70 in VT	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56	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.