What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Ayer	Fall River
People
Population	3,098Lowest	94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fall River and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kHighest 28% below MA	$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA	$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA	$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA
	Ayer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 18% below MA	$3,953Lowest 34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fall River and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#262 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	—	B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.