Compare towns
Ayer vs Hamilton vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
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).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
7,600Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below 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% |
20.8%±8Lowest 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%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$17k 28% below MA |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$890±$174Lowest 49% 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 |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.