What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ayer	Hampton
People
Population	8,645Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Ayer and Hampton 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.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
	Hampton and Ayer 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.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.