What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).

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	Windham	Ayer
People
Population	19,188Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Windham 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	#95 of 133 in ME	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.5Lowest
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.