Compare towns
Ayer vs Brooklyn vs Hampton
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 expensive homes ($464k median).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Brooklyn | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
8,517 |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn 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 26% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Brooklyn School District | Hampton 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.