Compare towns
Ayer vs Hamilton vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
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 | Hamilton | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
7,600Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton 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% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 28% below MA |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.