What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Smithfield	Ayer
People
Population	22,233Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Smithfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest 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+	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 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	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% 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	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Highest 67% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest 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	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest 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	#8 of 38 in RI	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.