Compare towns
Ayer vs Hingham vs Barre vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hingham | Barre | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
24,283Highest |
5,572 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Hingham and Hatfield 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Hatfield 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Hatfield 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Quabbin Regional High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.