What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Hamilton has the highest household income ($130k).

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	Ayer	Hamilton
People
Population	3,098Lowest	7,600Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA
	Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	68.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hamilton 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±$17kLowest 28% below MA	$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA	$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average
	Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest MA: 10%	7.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hamilton 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	#36 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town	—	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.