Compare towns
Ayer vs Epping 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 renters (41.9% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k 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 | Epping | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| North Brookfield and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and North Brookfield 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Epping and Ayer 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Ayer 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Epping School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.