Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Abington | Ayer | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
8,645 |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Abington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.