What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	3,098Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Worcester 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%	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kHighest 28% below MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
	Ayer and Worcester 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	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Highest 18% below MA	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester 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%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	—	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.6
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.