What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).

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	Ayer	Smithfield
People
Population	3,098Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S.	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	—	Smithfield
High school in town	—	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.