Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook vs Hampton vs North Brookfield
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).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Ayer | Colebrook | Hampton | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
4,760Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and North Brookfield 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | — | — | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Colebrook School District | Hampton School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.