Compare towns
Ayer vs Halifax vs Hanson
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%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
7,748Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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 about the MA average |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.