Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,328Lowest |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Abington 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$125,400±$12k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,045 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Abington 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% |
4%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. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampton Falls School District | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.