What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).

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

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	Glocester	Ayer
People
Population	10,221Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,248Highest 68% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.