Compare towns
Ayer vs Bartlett vs Jackson
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Bartlett | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,281 |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.4±4.7 48% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Bartlett School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.