What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest 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%	14.5%±2.8Highest 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%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Worcester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest 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%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest 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	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	South High Community	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.