Compare towns
Ayer vs Central Falls vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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.
| Measure | Ayer | Central Falls | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
22,701 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket and Ayer 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% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Central Falls 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. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,960 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Central Falls Sr High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.6 |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.