Compare towns
Ayer vs Brooklyn vs Hampton vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Ayer | Brooklyn | Hampton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
8,517Highest |
1,647Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brooklyn School District | Hampton School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.