Compare towns
Ayer vs Smithfield vs Shirley
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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Smithfield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
22,233Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Shirley 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Shirley 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Smithfield | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| 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.