Compare towns
Ayer vs Johnston vs Smithfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
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.
| Measure | Ayer | Johnston | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
29,835Highest |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Ayer 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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 | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest 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 | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Johnston | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Johnston Senior High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.