What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ayer	Pawtucket
People
Population	8,645Lowest	75,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Ayer and Pawtucket 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%	22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pawtucket and Ayer 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%	14.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pawtucket 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.	$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Ayer and Pawtucket 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.	$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pawtucket 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%	13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#35 of 38 in RI
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	William E. Tolman 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.