Compare towns
Ayer vs Boylston 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Boylston | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
4,948 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ayer 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 about the MA average |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Boylston 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 17% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tahanto Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.