What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Worcester	Ayer
People
Population	207,055Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$74,878±$17kHighest 28% below MA
	Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$4,911Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	—
High school in town	South High Community	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.