Compare towns
Ayer vs Epping 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%).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Epping | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
7,430Lowest |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Ayer 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
| Epping and Abington 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Abington 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Epping School District | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Epping High School | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.