Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Hampton vs Abington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Devens | Hampton | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
16,426 |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Abington 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$125,400±$12k 55% above U.S. |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34k 62% above U.S. |
| Devens and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Abington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Hampton 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.