What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k 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	Torrington
People
Population	8,645Lowest	35,547Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	42.9±1.8Highest 10% above U.S.
	Torrington 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%	17.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Torrington 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%	19.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Torrington 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.	$70,856±$5kLowest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,169±$43Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Torrington 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%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#132 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Torrington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.9Highest
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.