What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).

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	Central Falls
People
Population	8,645Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ayer and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Ayer and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Central Falls and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.