What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Johnston
People
Population	8,645Lowest	29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Johnston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston 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.	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Ayer and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Ayer and Johnston 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.	$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Johnston
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.3Lowest
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.