Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook vs Hampton vs West Bridgewater
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
West Bridgewater has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Colebrook | Hampton | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Colebrook 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$503,800±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,471Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3 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 | — | — | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | Hampton School District | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.